Yellow Line monorail trial attracts 80,000 passengers, plans expansion

Nearly 80,000 passengers took advantage of the Yellow Line’s trial run over the weekend, as the Department of Rail Transport (DRT) plans to extend the trial to all 23 stations by mid-month. Pichet Kunadhamraks, the DRT’s director-general, stated that the current trial run includes 13 stations from Hua Mak to Samrong.

Pichet noted that a large number of people participated in the trial run, with 38,521 passengers on Saturday and 36,879 passengers on Sunday. The Yellow Line trains operate every 10 minutes from 9am to 8pm daily, offering free rides to passengers who obtain tickets at each station’s booth.

According to Pichet, the trial run proceeded smoothly with no reported issues.

“After one week of the trial run, we will consider opening all 23 stations from Lat Phrao in Bangkok to Samrong in Samut Prakan.”

The 30.4-kilometre Yellow Line connects with the Green Line at Samrong Station, the Airport Rail Link at Hua Mak Station, and the Blue Line at Lat Phrao Station. In the near future, the Yellow Line will also link to the Orange Line via Yaek Lam Sali station, reported Bangkok Post.

Pichet expects the number of passengers to increase on weekdays due to the Yellow Line’s interchanges with other city trains, such as MRT, BTS, and Airport Rail Link. The Yellow Line is anticipated to alleviate congestion on Srinakarin Road and Lat Phrao Road, as more commuters opt to use the monorail service instead of their cars.

Commercial operations for the Yellow Line are set to begin next month, with fares ranging from 15 to 45 baht.

Last week, the BTS expressed its readiness to invest in a 2.6-kilometre extension that would connect its Yellow Line monorail to the Green Line of the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRT) at Ratchayothin and Lat Phrao stations. Surapong Laoha-Unya, CEO of BTS, stated that the extension would be advantageous for commuters and that the company is prepared to discuss the matter with the MRTA. Read more HERE.